FLAVONOIDS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF CENTAUREA NERIMANIAE S. KULTUR

Centaurea nerimaniae S. Kultur, an endemic species from the Turkish flora, distributed in south Anatolia (Icel Province) was investigated for its flavonoids and in vitro antioxidant, anti-cholinergic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. The phytochemical investigation of the plant led to the isolation of five flavonoids, identified as cirsimaritin, hispidulin, apigenin, isokaempferide and apigenin 7-O-glucoside. In addition to its ability to inhibit AChE and lipid peroxidation, induced by Fe3+/ascorbate system, scavenge DPPH radicals, and to reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, the extract showed strong COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory and antimicrobial activities, suggesting that this plant could act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent against disorders, associated with oxidative damage, as well as an effective phytotherapeutic agent against some fungal and bacterial diseases